North Olmsted Police investigating release of Social Security numbers

NORTH OLMSTED — Police are investigating an incident where the North Olmsted Police Department allegedly released residents’ Social Security numbers in error, police said.

Police Chief Jamie Gallagher said police received a tip from a news source who said they received documents with unredacted Social Security numbers.

Gallagher said an individual requested a public record from the police department that was released to the individual June 25. Gallagher confirmed the requested record showed all numbers were redacted, so he is unsure of how the media outlet received the unredacted Social Security numbers.

Gallagher said although the source advised police the documents came from the police department, it is “too early to tell” and police are trying to determine whether this is the case.

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“We are taking this very seriously and are looking into if in fact they were released by us or somewhere else in the city,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher said police do not know the source of the release or how the news outlet received the documents. He said police have only seen redacted copies of the record and are unsure how the source obtained a copy of unredacted Social Security numbers.

“So we’re at a loss,” he said.

Media outlets reported the number of Social Security numbers released was 40,000, however Gallagher said he could not verify the figure until police further investigate the incident.

Gallagher confirmed the records also did release dates of birth and names, however he said this information is public. He said he does not think any residents are in jeopardy or that the information was released to the broad public.

The incident is under investigation, and Gallagher said police are working to determine the source of the release and whether or not it was an error.